AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Don, and wife Martha, formerly long- time Orlando residents, re-located from St. Petersburg-Clearwater area on Florida’s "Sun Coast" to the Southeast Volusia County's "Fun Coast". Looking to get away from the "big city" and returning to their previous boating habit, they purchased a villa in New Smyrna Beach’s Sugar Mill Country Club, becoming full-time residents Christmas 2000.

Don, one of the few native Floridians (AKA "cracker"), grew up in the Lakeland highlands and attended Bartow High School before joining the US Navy for adventure and a technical education. Post-military education accomplishments include a BS from Rollins College, Winter Park, majoring in science and mathematics and post-graduate courses in business administration, and numerous career-related courses. He pursued a technology career.

Don and Martha were married in October 1990 while both were residing and working in Orlando - making a career re-location to St. Petersburg/Clearwater 17 months later. Don decided in 2000 to pursue a significant career change from Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications in Largo Florida, following a lengthy aerospace/defense systems research/development and manufacturing career in engineering and project management; starting with Martin Marietta in Orlando, a brief stance with Southern Bell Telephone, followed by 20 years with Litton Laser Systems in Orlando and 9 years in Tampa Bay. As a professional project manager, he was accountable to his employer and to government and prime contractors for program technical, schedule, and cost performance.

Don and Martha attended the Florida Real Estate pre-license program provided by St. Petersburg Junior College. Both subsequently obtained their Florida Real Estate Salesperson license and completed the real estate post-license course. Martha and Don joined Watson Realty Corp. of New Smyrna Beach in early 2001 after re-locating to New Smyrna Beach.

Don earned his Florida Real Estate Broker license January 2004. Followed with the e-Professional Certification, Graduate REALTOR Institution (GRI) Certification, and has been trained by the Florida Association of Realtors as a Media Spokesperson regarding real estate issues.

Don served as a New Smyrna Beach Board of Realtors®Director in 2005; served in 2006 as Chairperson of the Realtors’ Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and the association’s President-Elect 2006; received the 2006 REALTOR® of the Year award from the New Smyrna Beach Board of Realtors®; was installed as the New Smyrna Beach Board of Realtors’ President for 2007; served as Past President/Director/MLS Chair in 2008; and serves as Director Emeritus and MLS Chair in 2009. He is in his ninth year as an internet savvy real estate professional, specializing in home and condo residential listing and sales in the SE/East Volusia market.

LICENSURE
Florida Real Estate Broker
US Coast Guard Captain - 100 Ton Master Coastal Waters/ T.W.I.C.
FCC Commercial Radiotelephone w/Radar Endorsement

PROFESSIONAL/SOCIAL AFFILIATIONS
National Association of Realtors® (NAR)
Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR)
New Smyrna Beach Board of Realtors®
New Smyrna Beach Board of Realtors®, MLS Chair (2004 & 2006), Vice Chair 2005
New Smyrna Beach Board of Realtors®, Director (2005)
New Smyrna Beach Board of Realtors®, President-Elect (2006)
New Smyrna Beach Board of Realtors®, President (2007)
New Smyrna Beach Board of Realtors®, Past President/Director/MLS Chair (2008)
New Smyrna Beach Board of Realtors®, Director Emeritus /MLS Chair (2009)
United States Power Squadrons
Ponce de Leon Inlet Sail and Power Squadron

HOBBIES
Home 'n Garden
Boating
Personal Computing and technology